The Labor enquirer., 1887-04-23
2oo,0eo MEN
Ths Largest Meeting. Ever Held /. the
/. World Assemblies h
Londeni
Michael Davitt Addresses the Mul.
titudes From the Socialist
Platform.

Monday, April 1.-THE day appoints
for the great demonstration in Londc
against the Irish coercion bill now befol
the house Of commons-brought out Il
largest gathering ever held in the Britis
metropolis. Vast crowds of poop
marched toward Hyde Park from ever
direction Of London, with bands, banner
and carriages filed with leaders in tn
days exercises. The utmost enthusiasm
prevailed in the great throngs. Many 9
the banners exhibited bore portraits 9
Mr.. Gladstone, Michael Davitt and Fathe
Cellar. Fourteen platforms for the use Q
orators had been erected in Hyde Par
and occupied the whole frontage facin
the fashionable Parklane. A large fore
Of police was held in reserve for an emel
gency. The Socialiats erected platforms
from which many speakers delivered ora
tions. They afterward.. ..held,'an immens
meeting in Trafalgar square.
Estimates of the attendance at tn
meeting vary, but it is certain that 2OO,0O'
persons, including on-lookers, were pres
ent. The procession $4,000 strong wa
COMPOSED of the members of the Rober
Ehmet lodge; then followed large mum
Der Of Irish temperance lodges, radica
workmen's clubs, and Social Democrat,
societies. Numerous bands of music wer,
in the line. While passing the Carlton
and other conservative clubs the bands
played the Dead March in Saul" and the
"Marseillaise." Green banners and Irish
national emblems we're conspicuous in the
ranks of the paraders. Among the mot
toes displayed on the banners were theses
Justice to Ireland" "Friendship-Not
Bayouets;" mo Coercionr The
effect of the careful arrangements
that had been made to avoid confusion at
the park was seen in the admirable order
in which the paraders grouped themselves
around the fourteen platforms. Messrs.
Conybsare and William Redmond, men,
bers Of parliament, spoke. Lord Mayor
Sullivan, in the course of most effective
speech, asked: as it the wish of the work
men of London that the honest, hard
working tenantry of Ireland shall be for
ever crushed DOWN." A tremendous re-
sponsive ''No!" resounded throughout the
park. The mention of the queen as about
to celebrate her jubilee by signing away
the liberties of the people of Ireland
brought forth torrent of Kisses, and the
of Mr.. Chamberlain's name
aroused tempest of groans and Kisses,
with cries of 'Traitorr Mr.. Sullivan, in
assured his hearers that the
demonstration would carry hope and Joy
into the hearts of the Irish. II would
cheer many a poor struggling man to
know that England was no enemy of Ire
land. "In return" he said, "don't let
them believe those who say the Irish are
mortal, implacable enemies of England.
That is falsehood worthy of the bottom
less pit. Cheers. Let there be an end
of oppression and injustice, and there will
be an end of hatred. Prolonged cheer
ing.
Michael Davitt appeared at Socialist
platform. He referred to the demonstra-
tion as proof of the approaching soli-
darity of the people of Great Britain and
Ireland. In proportion as the masses be-
gan to understand each other, so the
classes became alarmed. The privileged
classes well knew the inevitable tendency
of the Irish movement, and sought to
crush the Irish leaders, hoping to prevent
the English people from following the ex-
ample set by the Irish. But they could
hold the fort in Ireland. Cheers. On
the day ON which the crimes act should be-
come law, they would either have to give
up the struggle that had been waged for
centuries, and lie down as slaves, or rem
der the system impossible of duration.
They would follow the manlier course.
The classes had in the past built bridge
of hate across the Irish sea; the people
would pull it down and erect a bridge of
love between the toilers of Ireland and
the honest workers of England. Cheers.
John Burns, Socialist leader, followed
Mr.. Davitt. He declared that the state of
Ireland justified civil war, and that the
English people we're ready to assist the
Irish peasants in revolt.
At 4:60 o'clock bugle sounded, and at
this prearranged signal resolution con-
demning the crimes bill was put simulta
neously at all the platforms. The resolu-
tion was carried amid prolonged roar of
cheers. The London News, commenting
on the Hyde Park demonstration, says;
'sThe demonstration shows that the bulk
of the working population of London have
determined to do justice to Ireland. That
is the sufficient and ennobling reason for
which they gave up their holiday. They
refused to take their ease while iniquitous
oppression was being done in their name =
She London Telegraph says: Justice
must be done to the earnestness of those
who took part in the demonst. alton. But
q closer examination of the question
could not fail to convince them that the
government is not trying to tyrannize
over anybody butts trying to emancipatt
honest farmers and tradesmen from
subtle and cowardly form of tyranny"
Chicago Carpenters.